As we enter 2026, many Filipinos are setting resolutions to eat healthier and become more mindful of nutrition. But how easy is it really to make informed food choices, especially when grocery shelves are filled with products claiming to be “healthy”?

In this rerun episode of Teka Teka, we revisit a conversation on food labels, nutrition claims, and why what we eat matters for public health. Health experts and advocates explain how excessive sugar, salt, and fat intake are linked to non-communicable diseases, which are now among the leading causes of death in the Philippines.

The episode also looks at the push for clearer food warning labels, how other countries have implemented them, and why these labels could help Filipino consumers make better, healthier choices without needing to decode complicated nutrition facts.

If improving your eating habits is part of your New Year’s resolutions, this episode offers important context on nutrition, food environments, and the policies shaping what ends up on our plates.

This episode rerun is produced and edited by Anthony Tobias. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The New Year often promises fresh starts, but real life rarely resets overnight. In this episode, we revisit a meditation on finding meaning in repetition, quiet progress, and the everyday effort we carry into each year.

Drawing from the story of Sisyphus and the gentle wisdom found in Hayao Miyazaki’s films, Jyn Garcia explores how hope, clarity, and purpose can emerge even when life feels non-linear or overwhelming.

If you’re easing into 2026, this episode offers a grounded reflection on work, growth, and the small choices that shape our days.

This episode rerun is produced and edited by Anthony Tobias. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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On Rizal Day, we revisit one of Manila’s most overlooked heritage sites: the Pansiteria Macanista de Buen Gusto, a real Binondo restaurant that José Rizal named in El Filibusterismo.

The structure—one of the last surviving 19th-century buildings of its kind—offers a rare glimpse into the Manila Rizal once walked. Though time has nearly claimed it, the pansiteria remains a powerful reminder of the everyday spaces that shaped his world and his writing.

In this episode rerun, we explore the building’s history, its connection to Rizal’s novel, and why heritage advocates are racing to save it from collapse or demolition. On this day when we honor Rizal’s legacy, we ask what it means to let a piece of his Manila fade away.

This episode was produced and engineered by Anthony Tobias. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Recorded live at MAKI+Fiesta 2.0, this episode of Thought Bubbles brings together content creators DJ Cupcakes and Mathilda Airlines, alongside journalist and producer Lolit Lachica, for a grounded conversation on influence, creative content, and truth-telling in today’s media landscape.

From remixing viral rants into music, to using movement and humor as entry points for political and social issues, the discussion explores how creators navigate algorithms, advocacy, and responsibility. The episode also looks at the growing overlap between content creation and journalism—where personality, research, and context intersect in shaping public conversation.

This live recording offers insight into how creators stay authentic while reaching wide audiences, why collaboration with journalists matters, and what truth-telling looks like in an age of virality.

This episode was produced Bubbles Magpayo and engineered by Jem Bunao. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. For more updates, follow us on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

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Every year, the Filipino Christmas season unofficially begins the moment Jose Mari Chan’s voice returns to malls, radios, and memes. But the history of our holiday soundtrack goes much deeper than Christmas in Our Hearts.

In this episode rerun, we trace the evolution of Filipino Christmas music—from the Spanish-era villancicos, to classic OPM hits like Ang Pasko ay Sumapit and Himig ng Pasko, all the way to the rise of Jose Mari Chan, whose songs have come to define the modern Filipino Christmas playlist.

Music educators and culture experts walk us through the traditions, cultural influences, and generations of Filipino composers who shaped the way we celebrate the holidays through song.

This episode was produced and engineered by Anthony Tobias. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Every Christmas, Filipinos turn to Papemelroti for simple, meaningful, and affordable gifts—from wooden signs and journals to handcrafted décor and inspirational keepsakes. But before it became a go-to shop for holiday gift-giving, it began as a small family-run store under an apartment in Quezon City—built by Benny and Socorro Alejandro, and later powered by their creatively raised children.

In this episode rerun, we revisit the story of how Papemelroti grew into one of the most beloved Filipino craft brands, how it survived shifting times, and why it continues to inspire generations of makers and gift-givers.

This episode was produced and engineered by Anthony Tobias. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meta's decision to end its third-party fact-checking program threatens to reshape the Philippine information landscape—and not for the better. In this episode, journalist Nica Hanopol sits down with disinformation researcher and political communications professor JM Lanuza to unpack what this means for Filipino audiences who already navigate a sea of misinformation online.

With 34% of Filipinos consulting fact-checking sites—higher than the global average—the stakes couldn't be clearer. But as funding cuts sweep through counter-disinformation efforts and platforms shift toward opaque "community notes" systems, who stands to benefit? And more importantly, who loses?

This episode is produced by Nica Rhiana Hanopol and engineered by Anthony Tobias. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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It’s Christmas 2025, and the season of shopping, gift-giving, and holiday travel is in full swing. But with high prices and rising expenses, many Filipinos are asking the same question: How do I make the most of my 13th month pay and Christmas bonus this year?

In this special holiday rerun, we revisit a listener favorite on smart spending and financial planning. Learn practical tips on budgeting, paying off debt, setting financial goals, and making intentional choices with your money—so you can enjoy the holidays without the January regrets.

If you're looking for guidance on how to use your bonus wisely, avoid impulsive holiday spending, or start investing for the future, this episode is for you.

This episode was produced and engineered by Anthony Tobias. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Vasectomy is still uncommon in the Philippines, but that may be starting to change.

Recently, writer Brix Tino won First Prize for Sanaysay at the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for his essay “Ari,” where he shares why he chose to get a vasectomy at just 22 years old. And earlier this year, TV host Drew Arellano was praised by the Commission on Population and Development for undergoing a vasectomy, showing that men can take an active role in family planning.

In this rerun of our original episode, we go inside a no-scalpel vasectomy with someone who documented his experience in real time — from pre-procedure counseling to recovery — and we hear from advocates about how male involvement can save lives by protecting women’s health.

This episode was produced and engineered by Anthony Tobias. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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What does learning Tagalog mean to second- and third-generation Filipino Americans? PumaPodcast reporter Maria Reyes joins New York University students on an immersion trip to Little Manila, Queens, where they practice the language with shop owners and reconnect with their heritage. Their stories reveal how language loss, shame, and identity shape the Fil-Am experience and why learning Tagalog can be an act of healing and pride.

This episode was engineered by Jem Bunao. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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It’s 2025, and the DTI is once again insisting that a ₱500 Noche Buena is possible—sparking déjà vu from the same debate three years ago. So we’re bringing back that earlier episode to revisit the original uproar and explore what the ₱500 Noche Buena tells us about affordability, holiday spending, and the cost of living in the Philippines.

This episode rerun was produced by Hannah Tasarra and engineered by Anthony Tobias. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Why do so many Filipino children struggle to read and what does that say about the state of education and literacy in the Philippines today?

In this National Book Week episode, we revisit our conversation with Gillian Reyes of the National Book Development Board (NBDB) to unpack the country’s growing reading crisis. From lack of access and rising book costs to home environments and reading culture, this episode explores the real reasons why fewer Filipinos are reading for pleasure — and how this impacts literacy, learning, and national development.

We also dive into how initiatives like Book Nooks, the Philippine Book Festival, and local language translations are working to rebuild a culture of reading in communities across the country.

This episode rerun was produced by Anthony Tobias and engineered by Jem Bunao. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

For more updates, follow us on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Philippines has become one of the most active frontlines in the growing US–China information war, where digital influence operations, propaganda campaigns, and soft power tactics are shaping public opinion, politics, and national security.

In this episode, we speak with Reuters correspondents Poppy McPherson and Karen Lema about their investigation into a Chinese-backed disinformation network operating in the Philippines — and how it mirrors similar tactics used by the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.

From troll accounts and fake engagement to “soft diplomacy” influencers and controversial awards for public officials, this conversation unpacks how global powers compete for narrative control in the country. It also explores why the Philippines has become such a strategic target in both information warfare and the broader US–China geopolitical rivalry, especially in the context of the South China Sea, Taiwan tensions, and regional security.

This episode was engineered by Anthony Tobias. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

You may read the Reuters articles here and here.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Sixteen years after the Maguindanao Massacre, one of the deadliest attacks on journalists in history, Teka Teka revisits one of the most haunting stories from Super Evil: A Beautiful Place to Die Season 2.

This special feature brings back “The Cellphone,” the powerful minisode about Atty. Cynthia Oquendo-Ayon, one of the 58 victims murdered on November 23, 2009. Amid the terror on a remote hill in Maguindanao, Cynthia managed to hold on to her phone and send desperate messages as gunfire surrounded her. Those final texts, recovered against all odds, would later help convict members of the Ampatuan clan in a trial that lasted a decade.

More than a retelling of violence, this episode is a tribute to courage, press freedom, and the relentless pursuit of truth. It reflects on how one woman’s final act, reaching out for help, became a key piece of evidence in one of the most important justice battles in Philippine history.

As we commemorate another year since the massacre, we remember the journalists, lawyers, and civilians whose lives were stolen—and the stories that demand to be told, again and again.

Listen to this Teka Teka special feature and revisit the origins of Super Evil’s landmark investigation into the Maguindanao Massacre.

This episode was produced by Bubbles Magpayo and engineered by Jem Bunao. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Regine Cabato sits down with military historian Jose Custodio to unpack the rise of pro-China propaganda on Filipino social media and how these narratives intersect with the politics of the Marcos administration and the Duterte camp.

Custodio explains where fearmongering about military coups comes from, why influencers echo Beijing’s lines on the West Philippine Sea, and how disinformation networks built during the Duterte years continue to shape public opinion today. He also discusses the political stakes leading up to 2028 — from Marcos’ pushback against pro-China narratives to how the Duterte camp’s messaging still resonates with voters despite widespread anti-China sentiment.

This episode was engineered by Anthony Tobias. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the most powerful, influential, and controversial figures in modern Philippine history, has died at 101.

In this rerun of our special series on JPE, we look back on the extraordinary life of a man whose story spanned dictatorship, revolution, and democracy — and who served across administrations from Ferdinand Marcos Sr. to Benigno Aquino III.

This first episode traces Enrile’s beginnings: from his childhood in Cagayan and his reunion with his father, to his rise as a brilliant young lawyer and his entry into government under President Marcos Sr.

Originally released in 2024 to mark his 100th birthday, this series draws from news archives, public records, and Juan Ponce Enrile: A Memoir. Interview segments courtesy of Probe Archives.

This rerun was produced and engineered by Anthony Tobias. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the passing of Juan Ponce Enrile at 101, we revisit the story of a man whose influence shaped—and survived—every major turn in modern Philippine politics.

In this rerun of the second and final part of our special series on JPE, we trace how he moved from the center of power under Ferdinand Marcos Sr. to the front lines of the 1986 People Power Revolution, and how he remained a force in government long after.

Originally released in 2024 to mark his 100th birthday, this series draws from news archives, public records, and Juan Ponce Enrile: A Memoir. Interview segments courtesy of Probe Archives.

This rerun was produced by Anthony Tobias and engineered by Jem Bunao. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

For more updates, follow us on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does the media shape the way we think and talk about mental health? Hannah Tasarra sits down with Roy Dahildahil and Richardson Mojica of MentalHealthPH to talk about how news outlets, social media, and content creators can help change the narrative around mental health and suicide in the Philippines.

They discuss what responsible reporting looks like, why certain words matter, and how empathy and ethical storytelling can save lives. Join us as we explore how to use media as a tool for awareness, understanding, and hope.

Trigger Warning ⚠️

This episode contains sensitive topics related to self-harm and suicide that might be triggering or difficult to listen to. Please only listen if you're comfortable. 

If you need to reach out to a professional for support, you can reach out to NCMH 24/7 Crisis Hotline at 0917-899-8727 or check mentalhealthph.org/directory for a list of mental health facilities. We're committed to a safe and supportive environment for all. Thank you for joining us.

This episode was produced by Hannah Tasarra and engineered by Jem Bunao. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

For more updates, follow us on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an age of screens and solitude, Filipino adults are rediscovering the joy of gathering around a table: to play, tell stories, and roll some dice. In this episode of Thought Bubbles, we talk to gamer and storyteller Lanz Frago about the growing tabletop games community in the Philippines, why it’s not just for kids (or nerds), and how these games are building friendships, creativity, and even confidence among players.

This episode was produced by Bubbles Magpayo, and engineered by Anthony Tobias. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

For more updates, follow us on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

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Teacher Grace Osio, Board Member of World Vision Philippines and a longtime advocate for inclusive education, joins host Hannah Tasarra to unpack what ADHD really is — a condition of regulation, attention, and processing, not misbehavior. Together, they discuss how hyperactivity and inattention can be misunderstood, how classroom structures can unintentionally exclude, and why changing mindsets among teachers and parents is key to building classrooms where every child can thrive.

This episode was produced by Hannah Tasarra and engineered by Anthony Tobias. Jaemark Tordecilla is our editor-at-large.

Listen to our episodes on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

For more updates, follow us on these platforms: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.